Flexible ladder.



No. 731,293. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

W- A. EHRMANNTRAUT.

FLEXIBLE LADDER.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 27, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. EI-IRMANNTRAUT, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTII TO M. l/V. BURK, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

FLEXIBLE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,293, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed December 27, 1902. Serial No. 136,820. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. EHRMANN- TRAUT, a citizen of the United States, residing ladder capable of use for fire-e'scapes, roofladders, vessels, mechanics ladders, and many other purposes.

Among other objects may be mentioned the stiffening of the tread to avoid mashing and allowing for expansion and contraction of the parts, also to provide for tying and locking the leg of the ladder to keep it from pulling apart and breaking the iron. The ladder may be reversed, so that the tread may be used either side up. I further provide means for keeping the hook from slipping and disfiguring the ladder. I provide a twist'to lock the step to keep it from, slipping over and breaking and also to give greater width to the ladder for foot-tread.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in'the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a front view of my improved ladder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of one of the links or sections thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a slightly-modified form. Fig. 5 is a like View of still another form. Fig. 6 is a detail, partly in elevation and partly in section.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, 1 represents one of the links which is seen in Fig. 1, consisting of the parallel side bars 2 and the crossed or connecting portion 3, which latter in this instance is extended upwardly, as is indicated best in Fig. 2, and

this forms the tread or step of the link. It

' will be observed that the cross-bar or step 3 near each end is provided with the inclined or ofiset portion 4, which serves to stiffen the tread, and beyond each of theseinclined por- 6o of the building or other support and to throw the tread portion away from the building, as will be best understood from Fig. 2. The upper ends of the side bars 2 are bent to constitute hooks 8, it being understood that the above description applies to the upper link of the ladder, as illustrated. These hooks are designed to engage in the offset portions 9 of the supporting hanger or device 10, which in the present instance is illustrated as in the form of a hook, the hook portions 11 of which may engage over a window-sill or any other support from which the ladder may. be suspended. The lower portion of this supporting-hook is provided with a tread or step 12,

as seen best in Fig. 1, which extends vertically, as does the step 3 on the link 1 just described. The step or tread 12 is provided at its ends with the inclined portions 13, which serve to keep the hooks from slipping and also preventing disfiguring of the ladder.

The remaining links of the ladder are formed in substantially the same manner, except that the upper ends of the side bars thereof instead of being formed with hooks are formed with the eyes 14, which are formed round, so 5 as to avoid mashing and to allow for expansion and contraction, which are designed to engage over the horizontal portions 5 of the tread or step, as illustrated, it being understood that each of these links is provided with a tread or step 15, which, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, extends horizontally. It is evident,

It also gives additional width to the 65 however, that the tread portion may be otherwise disposed. For instance, in Fig. 3 it is indicated by dotted lines 16 as extending straight across without any offset portion, while in Fig. 4: the tread or step 17 is shown as extending downward "from its inclind portions 18 instead of upward, asin the construction above described; but the effect is substantially the same in the different forms. It is to be understood that in all of the forms the twists 6 and the portions 7, which form legs serving to keep the ladder away from the wall or other support, are substantially the same. I

In Fig. 5 I have shown how the ladder may be constructed of a different form. In this view the portions 7 are present, as is also the step 3, extending upwardly; but in this instance the step is inclined slightly from the perpendicular, as seen best in Fig. 6, and the metal is coiled about the horizontal portions 5, extending from the inclined portions 4 of the tread to form the coils 19, which give great rigidity to the ladder at this point. This form ties the leg and locks the same, so as to keep it from pulling apart and breaking the iron.

From the above it will be seen that I have devised a novel and efficient construction of flexible ladder, and while some of the modes of embodiment of the invention in practical form are herein illustrated and havejust been described it is evident that other forms may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction herein illustrated, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A section or link for ladders comprising a three-sided link, one side of which is provided with a tread with stiffening means at the ends and having lateral portions to hold the ladder away from its support.

2. A section or link for flexible ladders con-r sisting of substantially parallel side portions with their upper ends formed to engage over a support and the lower end formed with an offset tread with integral strengthening means, substantially as described.

A section or link forflexible ladders,consisting of substantially parallel side portions with their upper ends formed to engage over a support and the lower end formed with an offset, and horizontal portions serving as steps and integral strengthening means at the ends thereof.

4.. Asection or link for flexible ladders,consisting of substantially parallel side portions with their upper ends formed to engage over a support and the lower end formed with an ofiset tread, and means for stiffening the tread at the ends.

5. A section or link for flexible ladders comprising substantially parallel side bars, a tread at one end thereof having inclined connecting portions at the ends andstrengthening means and horizontal portions, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A flexible ladder comprising sections or links flexibly connected and each provided with a stiffened tread portion With the met-albeyond the tread portion bentupon itself to form horizontal portions to keep the ladder away from a wall.

7. A flexible ladder comprising sections or links flexibly connected, each provided with a stiffened tread portion with the metal beyond the tread portion bent upon itself to form horizontal portions to keep the ladder away from a Wall, and a supporting device having an offset tread or step.

8. A flexible ladder composed of sections or links each having an offset tread portion or' step, horizontal portions, integral strengthening means for the ends of said tread portions and means for tying and locking the tread portions to the side bars to keep the same from pulling apart,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. EHRMANNTRAUT.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. MoRRIs, C AS. B. CARROLL. 

